Every compatibility score on this site comes from one short, symmetric formula. Nothing is hidden and nothing is edited by hand. This guide gives the rule, the bands and three worked examples so you can reproduce any of the 78 pair scores yourself.
The short version
- Look up the element pair of the two signs and take its base score.
- Add 5 if the signs have different modalities, or subtract 5 if they share one.
- Keep the result between 0 and 100.
- Read the band: 80 and above strong, 65 to 79 good, 50 to 64 mixed, below 50 challenging.
The one exception is a sign paired with itself, which scores a flat 75.
Step 1: element base
The base depends only on the two elements. Order does not matter, so Fire and Water is the same as Water and Fire. If you need a refresher on which sign has which element, see Elements and modalities.
| Element pair | Base | |---|---| | Same element | 80 | | Fire and Air | 85 | | Earth and Water | 85 | | Fire and Earth | 45 | | Fire and Water | 40 | | Earth and Air | 50 | | Air and Water | 55 |
The pattern follows traditional astrology. Fire and Air are called supportive because air feeds fire. Earth and Water are called supportive because water nourishes earth. Fire and Water, or Fire and Earth, are called friction pairs.
Step 2: modality adjustment
Modality is Cardinal, Fixed or Mutable.
- Same modality: minus 5. Two signs that move at the same pace can clash over who leads.
- Different modality: plus 5. Different paces are said to balance each other.
- Same sign: no adjustment. Both people share element and modality entirely, so the score is 75.
Step 3: clamp and band
The result is clamped to 0 to 100. With the rules above, real scores run from 35 to 85, but the clamp keeps any future rule change safe.
| Score | Band | One-line meaning | |---|---|---| | 80 to 100 | Strong | Shared element or a supportive pair, with an easy rhythm | | 65 to 79 | Good | A workable pair with real common ground | | 50 to 64 | Mixed | Some friction, some match, depends on the people | | 0 to 49 | Challenging | Different instincts, so it takes effort |
Worked examples
Example 1: Taurus and Virgo. Both Earth, base 80. Taurus is Fixed and Virgo is Mutable, so they differ: plus 5. Score 85, strong. See the Taurus and Virgo page.
Example 2: Aries and Cancer. Fire and Water, base 40. Both are Cardinal, so minus 5. Score 35, challenging. See Aries and Cancer.
Example 3: Gemini and Sagittarius. Air and Fire, base 85. Both are Mutable, so minus 5. Score 80, strong. See Gemini and Sagittarius.
Example 4: Leo and Leo. Same sign, flat 75, good. See Leo and Leo.
Check your own pair by looking up the signs in What is a zodiac sign, then following the steps above.
Why the score is symmetric
The function treats both people the same. The score for Aries and Leo is identical to Leo and Aries, so each pair has exactly one page. We list the signs in zodiac order, Aries first and Pisces last, giving 78 pages: 66 for different signs and 12 for same-sign pairs.
What the score leaves out
Be clear-eyed about this. The method uses only two labels per person. It ignores the Moon, rising sign, Venus, birth time and everything about the actual people. The Vedic tradition has its own matching method, ashtakoot or guna milan, which uses the Moon sign and birth star, and it is a different system. Read Rashi vs sun sign to see why the two answers differ.
Also remember that sun signs on a boundary day may shift by one, as explained in Zodiac cusp signs. If you are unsure, test both signs and see whether the band changes.
Entertainment, not advice
Scores are for fun and conversation. A 35 does not doom a couple and an 85 does not guarantee one. The disclaimer sits on the Methodology page as well. Please do not make big life choices from a number on a phone.
Try it
Open the compatibility picker, choose two signs and share the result on WhatsApp. Or use the calculator to find your own sign first.